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Monday, July 27, 2015

Dining Etiquette Around The World | Femina Believe

I was recently invited to a Femina Believe dining etiquette
workshop at Hakkasan, where I spent a lovely afternoon with friends while
learning the do’s, the don’ts and some pretty interesting facts about dining
etiquettes. Here is how to avoid unintentional blunders at the dining table around
the world:

Thailand

Sharing food is considered polite.
Use the fork only to assist you to push food onto your spoon, avoid eating with
it.
Do not eat the last bite off your plate or from the central serving plate;
avoid refilling your glass yourself.

China

It is not a tradition to offer tips in China.
Belching and slurping are not considered rude; in fact belching and slurping
are considered as appreciation for the meal!
Do not stick your chopsticks upright into your food; this practice is associated
to the funeral traditions of China.

Italy

Wait for the host to say "Buòn appetito!" before
taking the first bite.
Italians do not add cheese to their seafood.
Avoid milk beverages after meals, go for an espresso instead.

France

Do not split the bill.
Rest your wrists (not elbows) on the table, not on your lap.
Tear your bread into bite-sized pieces and never bite directly into it.

Of course the most essential components of a splendid meal are good conversations and
great company. So do not get intimidated by these points, as I am sure no one
will be offended by a mistake that is committed unintentionally.

A big highlight of that afternoon for me was learning to use
chopsticks! And would you believe it, by the end I became so good at using
chopsticks that I along with Reeneta won a contest where we had to pick peanuts
with chopsticks! (Okay it was mostly Reeneta’s expertise that made us win, but
I was ecstatic to be a part of the winning challenge nevertheless.)

________________

Femina Believe launches a selection of short thorough workshops in subjects
like:

Makeup: Empower yourself with
techniques to overcome your self-consciousness and skillfully apply makeup
for every occasion.

Styling: Understand the nuances of styling
to make the right outfit choices based on various parameters.

Dining etiquette: Be assured to dazzle by
learning the elements and characteristics of graceful dining.

Communication skills & body language: Nurture
personal and professional relationships with the ability to project the
right personality.

Femina Believe workshops are currently conducted in Mumbai, Pune and Delhi NCR.